Appeal proves real on street

WE live on one of those streets that was once the norm in suburban Australia.

You know, where kids play until the street lights come on and parents stop on the driveway for a quick natter, a midweek cuppa or that more leisurely weekend session. Where Santa turns up to the street Christmas party on the back of a classic Ford ute, where teenage boys still unskilled on the finer points of romance throw water bombs at the teenage girls who pretend to not like it, where friendships are forged that will last a lifetime.

Every street needs a mayor and ours is a 2m basketball loving gentle giant whose “Children at play” witches hat and bellowing warning call of car coming is a fixture of most afternoons.

The RS 250’s arrival for a week-long stay generated more than a little interest with the sleek design and bright red Brembo callipers making it hard to miss.

It looked good and sounded good but would it answer the big question? Could it fit someone of above average height in comfort without him having to be a practised contortionist?

We had our answer as the mayor happily drove off up the road. The RS 250 was equal to the challenge. But who was going to yell out “car coming…”?

Comfort

Okay, so the RS 250 may fit the gentle giant in the front seat but he would have absolutely no chance at all in the back. That should definitely be the reserve of children who will be so thrilled by the yellow seatbelts that they won’t miss the view through the small triangular windows.

The front Recaro seats, edged in that yellow again, are excellent if a tad difficult to get in and out of. They are very comfortable, though and certainly come into their own at speed.

The leather racing steering and matching gear knob are a classy act, comfortable and responsive.

We were pleasantly surprised by the size of the boot which dealt efficiently with the sports bags and weekly shop.

On the road

Thrilling. Who would have thought a car that was so laidback at low speeds would be such a hoot once the needle passed three figures? Most cars perform well on the straight, it’s the bendy bits that set the better ones apart.

We put the RS through its paces in the hinterland on roads that have made much more expensive vehicles quiver.

But this little beast could hardly be faulted clutching on to corners and making light work of steep ascents with nary a sniff of understeer or body roll for that matter.

Improved traction comes courtesy of a limited slip differential and this certainly made a difference on secondary roads.

The brakes are excellent with Renault making a feature of the bright red Brembo four-piston brake callipers matched to 340mm ventilated front discs and 290mm solid rear discs.